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Punta Cana

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World-class beaches, desert islands and historical towns are part and parcel of holidays to Punta Cana, also known as the Coconut Coast.

The Coconut Coast

The 3 S’s sum up the state of play in Punta Cana. The sun, sea and sand on the Dominican Republic’s eastern edge are rated among the best in the world. More than 50 miles of coast runs from Bavaro to Uvero Alto and beyond. And most of it is backed by nut-bearing palm trees – earning this region the title of the Coconut Coast.

Isla Saona and Catalina Island

Punta Cana has a twin set of tropical islands. Isla Saona and Catalina Island are real castaway territory. Both lozenges of land lie off the south coast of the country and are protected as natural parks, so they’re completely untainted by the trappings of tourism.

Santo Domingo and Higuey

If you want a break from the coast, Punta Cana is home to some of the Caribbean’s most historical cities. Santo Domingo is one of the oldest settlements in the New World and Higuey is the site of a legendary battle, in which an apparition of the Virgin Mary is said to have saved Christopher Columbus from defeat at the hands of the Taino warriors.

Sand and sunsets

The 50 miles of beaches in Punta Cana have a celebrity following. Singers, former presidents, and fashion designers have all been spotted on the region’s sands. Facilities like watersports and restaurants are thick on the ground. Plus, the sunloungers on the beach are the best seats in the Dominican Republic’s house for watching the sunset.
The big beach

The name of Bavaro Beach often crops up in conversations concerning the best beaches in the world. This runway of sugar-white sand offers a different watersport for every day of the week. Plus, it’s backed by some of the best hotels in the Dominican Republic.
The secret beach

Punta Cana doesn’t hold its cards close to its chest when it comes to beaches. Most of the stretches of sand in this region are fairly well known. One of the most left-alone beaches, however, is Cabezo de Toro. It’s a 20-minute drive from Bavaro, and most people don’t make the journey because they’re content with the sand on their doorstep.

Bargain Buys

Bermudez, Brugal, and Barcelo are the top rum brands in the Dominican Republic and you don’t have to look hard if you want to buy a bottle. The beach vendors sell it from their sand-top stalls on El Cortecito and Punta Cana Beach. For tee-total gifts, try the area of Uvero Alto Beach between Hotel Sirens and Dreams. There are a few souvenir shops here selling art work and hand-made jewellery.
Mid-Range Buys

Larimar is a rare blue stone that’s unique to the Dominican Republic. It looks like a cross between turquoise and topaz and you can buy it in the jewellery shops in Altos de Chavon and in the Plaza Bavaro shopping area in Punta Cana. Some of the top hotels have their own jewellers, too, including the Club Hotel Riu Bambu in Bavaro.
Designer Buys

You could blow the kids’ inheritance in one spree at the Casa de Campo Marina near Bayahibe, an hour’s drive from Bavaro. The boutiques here are part of a luxury lifestyle complex and the rails are dripping with designer labels like Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana and Prada. Closer to home, a lot of the All Inclusive hotels in Bavaro have their own clothing boutiques, including the Riu Palace Punta Cana.

Laid-back evenings

If you’re staying in an All Inclusive hotel, the entertainment options are under your nose. Almost every property will put on an evening show of dancing, comedy or live music. If you like the look of what’s on at a neighbouring hotel, they’ll usually charge you a small amount for admission. If you want to venture further afield, there are a few bars in Bavaro, around Ave. Espana.
Lively evenings

Most hotels have a disco in their entertainment arsenal. The Arieto in the Caribe Club Princess Resort in Punta Cana is one of the most talked about, thanks to its Indian artefact decorations. Pacha in the Riu resort comes highly recommended, too. This place puts on live merengue and bachata bands on a regular basis. Outside of the hotels, the Friusa area of Bavaro is the place to go. One of the nightclubs here is inside a natural cave.

La bandera

This is the Dominican Republic’s national dish. Locals tend to eat it for lunch, which is the main meal of the day. The dish is a combination of rice, red beans, stewed goat and fried plantains. Dominican goats graze on oregano, so the meat in this dish has a deep flavour, like it’s been marinated.
Casabe

This recipe has been handed down from the Dominican Republic’s indigenous Taino population. The dish is a crispy flatbread, made with yucca flour. It’s a versatile food-stuff and can be eaten for breakfast with coffee, baked and served with soup at lunch, or served as an accompaniment to hot chocolate at supper.
Arepitas

These crispy fritters are ten-a-penny in the Dominican Republic. Street vendors sell them as lunch on the go and restaurants serve them up as side dishes. They’re made by mixing grated yucca with batter and they’re deep fried.
Mangu

Forget cornflakes, the big breakfast in the Dominican Republic is mangu. The dish is savoury and, in its rawest form, it’s made from mashed plantains and sautéed onions. It’s given the extra-factor by adding scrambled eggs, cooked meat and white cheese.
Mama juana

This is the Dominican Republic’s moonshine. It’s made by allowing rum, red wine and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. Like vintage wine, it tastes better the longer it’s left to stew. The end product is served in shot glasses and it tastes a little bit like port.

Places To Stay In Punta Cana View all places to stay

Cap Cana

This shiny new resort arrived on the scene in 2001, and is quickly making its name as a popular Caribbean holiday spot. With a selection of grand, five-star resorts, a marina packed with glistening yachts, and three professional Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses, it’s a glamorous place to stay. Nature’s on its side, too. The beaches are ranked among the world’s best and there’s a huge ecological reserve on the doorstep.

Bavaro

Set on the Dominican Republic’s east coast, Bavaro is a small town with 2 big selling points. First off, there are the upscale hotels which come with spas and infinity pools as standard. And then there’s the fabulous beach – a whole 10 kilometres worth of pure white sand and turquoise waters.

Uvero Alto

Uvero Alto is one of the most secluded villages on Punta Cana’s exclusive Coconut Coast, a majestic 50-kilometre sweep of tropical shoreline in the north-east of the Dominican Republic. Pull back the curtain of coconut trees and there’s a blanket of duvet-soft sands, where a select number of high-class resorts have put down roots.

AT A GLANCE

Cast away on Isla Saona
Zip line through the rainforest near Bavaro
Enjoy aerial views of Punta Cana from a helicopter

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Weather

Average monthly temperature and rainfall for Punta Cana.

TEMPERATURE (°C)RAINFALL (mm)

Month	Temperature	Rainfall
JAN	30.0	61.0
FEB	30.0	36.0
MAR	30.0	48.0
APR	31.0	99.0
MAY	31.0	173.0
JUN	32.0	158.0
JUL	32.0	163.0
AUG	32.0	160.0
SEP	32.0	185.0
OCT	32.0	152.0
NOV	31.0	122.0
DEC	30.0	61.0

WHEN TO GO

Punta Cana has a tropical climate and temperatures vary very little throughout the year – monthly averages range from 25˚C and 28˚C. The region experiences two distinct seasons – dry and wet. The wet season runs between May and November, and the air turns very humid and there are regular brief but heavy showers.

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Bavaro Splash

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Caribbean Cruising

Visit the archetypal island of Saona Island on this exclusive day out. First you’ll travel by a fast boat stopping at a natural…
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Capital Delights - From Punta Cana

Creeping in from the coastline, Santo Domingo isn’t only the Dominican Republic’s capital - it’s the largest city in theCaribbean.…
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Outback Safari

Take in the views as you tour the Dominican countryside in an open safari truck and to add to the fun there’s an open bar…
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Festival of the bulls

For one day, the town of Higuey turns into a scene from the Wild West. Cattle farmers come from neighbouring towns and villages…
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Surf the waves at Macao Beach

Pack your board shorts – Macao Beach, around a 10-minute drive from Bavaro, is a surfer’s paradise. It’s got fantastic waves…
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Watch your knuckles turn white during zip-lining

Play at Tarzan or Jane for the day on the zip lines, half-an-hour’s drive from Bavaro. These aerial assault courses are hidden…
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Watch the sunset at El Cortecito Beach

This beach holds hands with Bavaro Beach on the Dominican Republic’s east coast. It’s one of the most popular stretches of…
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Top 3 resorts in Punta Cana

Top 5 hotels in Punta Cana

1

TUI SENSATORI Resort Azul Punta Cana

From £845
2

ClubHotel Riu Bambu

From £772
3

Riu Palace Macao

From £854
4

Royalton Bavaro

From £1,064
5

Riu Republica

From £843

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Punta Cana

The Coconut Coast

Isla Saona and Catalina Island

Santo Domingo and Higuey

Things to See and Do in Punta Cana

Sand and sunsets

The big beach

The secret beach

Bargain Buys

Mid-Range Buys

Designer Buys

Laid-back evenings

Lively evenings

La bandera

Casabe

Arepitas

Mangu

Mama juana

Places To Stay In Punta Cana View all places to stay »

Cap Cana

Bavaro

Uvero Alto

AT A GLANCE

Weather

WHEN TO GO

Things To Do View all »

Top 3 resorts in Punta Cana

Top 5 hotels in Punta Cana

Where we go in Punta Cana Show on a map »

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